Brake-beam leveling and safety device



Jan, 19, 1932. H T ANDERSON 1,841,515

BRAKE BEAM LEVELING AND SAFETY DEVICE f 3L 1 1 s r i {$3 INVENTOR Jan. 19, 1932. v ANDERSON 1,841,515

BRAKE BEAM LEVELING AND SAFETY DEVICE Filed Sept. 28, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vided. Each of the chairs 12 is mounted on a lever 13 that is pivotally mounted adjacent the ends of t e spring members 2 and 3.

Since the chairs 12 are of similar construction, only one of them need be described in detail.

The preferred form of chair 12 which has been shown for purposes of illustration comprises a casting of steel or other suitable metal having spaced apart upstanding flanges 15 and 16. One end of the casting is provided with an arcuate shoulder 17 upon which the tension member 6 is disposed to rest. To insure that the tension member 6 will be held firmly upon the arcuate shoulder 17 of the chair casting and between the flanges 15 and 16, arcuate bosses or lugs 18 and 19 are provided on the inside surface of the flanges 15 and 16. When the chair casting 12 is mounted in place upon the tension member 6 of the brake beam, it ma be firmly clamped thereon by means of a olt 21 that passes through the flanges 15 and 16 above the tension member 6.

The chair casting 12 is provided with a dowel 22 that registers with an a erture 23 in the outer end of the lever 13. n order to secure the chair casting 12 in lace upon the lever 13, a washer 24: and a olt 25 are provided. As shown the bolt 25 passes through the chair casting, the dowel 22 thereof and the washer 24. When the chair casting is so mounted and secured upon the outer end of the lever 13 it acts as a swivel chair disposed to operate in a horizontal plane.

The inner end of the lever 13 is provided with an arcuate boss or shoulder 27 that rests upon the upper surface or face of the spring members 2 or 3. A lug or dowel 28 extends downwardly from the boss 27 through an elongated aperture 29 that extends at an oblique angle transversely of the ends of the spring members 2 or 3. The lever 13 may there ore, move back and forth in the aperture 29 within the limits of the length of the aperture.

In order to insure that the lever 13 will not tilt as a result of pressure at the outer end thereof, an arm 30 having a boss 31 on the underside thereof is provided as an integral part of the chair casting 12. The boss 31 presses on the lever 13 at substantially the middle portion thereof. The lever 13 is, therefore, prevented from tilting because the pressure on the chair casting resulting from the weight of the beam 4 bearing thereon is applied near the inner end of the lever 13. The boss 31 is substantially circular in transverse section and presents a relatively large bearing area upon the lever 13. In operation the lever 13 is free to move back and forth in the aperture or slot 29 and to turn about the boss or dowel 28 as a pivot. The chair casting 12 being fixedly mounted on the tension member 6 of the brake beam, and swivelly mounted in the outer end of lever 13, is free to turn with reference to the lever 13 about the dowel 22 acting as a swivel.

Since in operation the brake beam 4 moves back and forth in a horizontal plane as an ideal condition conducive to equal wear on.

the wearing surface of the brake shoes 10, the pressure or force, applied in an upward direction sufficient to maintain the brake beam 4 in a horizontal position, is alwa s supplied by the springs 2 and 3 through t e lever 13 and the chair. casting 12. The upward force exerted by the springs 2 and 3 through the lever 13 and the chair casting 12 is maintained substantially constant because the chair moves in substantially a horizontal plane simultaneously with the movement of the brake beam.

While various modifications may be made in the device arranged and constructed in accordance with the invention disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof, it is to be understood that only such limitations shall be placed on the invention as are imposed by the prior art and the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A swivel chair for a brake beam support and safety device, comprising a member 1 arranged to be turnably mounted on the safe-.

ty device, a clamp for the brake beam, and means for pivotally securing the clamp to the member.

2. A swivel chair for a brake beam support and safety device, comprising a member arranged to be turnably mounted on the safety device, a clamp for the brake beam, means for p'ivotally securing the clamp to the member and-means on said clamp arranged to press downwardly on said member at a point intermediate its ends.

3. A device for supporting a-brake beam on a spring member mounted on a spring plank that comprises a lever adapted to be Journalled in the spring member and disposed for movement in a plane substantially parallel to the plane in which the brake beam moves and a clamp disposed for mountin on the brake beam, said clamp being journa ed in said lever.

4. A device for supporting a brake beam on a spring member mounted on a spring lank that com rises a lever adapted to be journalled in t e spring member and disposed for movement in a lane substantially parallel to the plane in WhlCh the brake beam moves, a clamp disposed for mounting on the brake beam, said clamp being journalled in said lever and a lug on said clamp pressing downwardly on said lever at a point intermediate its ends.

5. A device for supporting a brake beam neeneie on a spring member mound '011 e spring plank that comprises e lever adapted be be vgournelled in ibe spring member and a clamp disposed for meaning on the brake beam, said clamp being jomrnelled in said lever.

6. A. device for supperiing s, brelze beam on e spring member mounted on e. spring plank t ee comprises e lever adapted to be journelled in iilifi spring member, s clamp disposed for mounting en the brake beam, snid clamp being jeurnelled in said lever and e lug on said clamp pressing downwardly on said lever at e eine intermediate its ends.

7 A device or supporting e brake beam on e spring member mounted on a spring plank that comprises e lever adapted to be onrnelled in the spring member, said lever having 2. boss provided with a curved be surface arranged to beer on said sprin member and a, clamp disposed for mounting on the brake beam, seid clamp being journalled in said lever.

8. A device for supporting a brake beem I on as spring member mountedon a spring plank that comprises e lever adapted to be ournslled in the spring member, said lever having a boss provided with e curved bearing surface arranged to beer on said spring membeer, a. clamp dis esed for mounting on the brake beam, seid elamp being journelled in said lever and a lug on said clamp pressing downwardly on said lever at s point inter-= mediate its ends.

, In testimony whereof, I have hereunte subscribed my name this 26th day of September, 1929.

. 7 RY T, ANDERSON. 

